BBC 5 Live General Chit Chat (Part 2)

Comments

Just heard a bit of Colin Murray's interview with the "Secret footballer" - because they had to disguise and distort his voice it sounded like Murray was talking to some sort of dummy/young child!

An irony as the "Secret Footballer " probably felt he was talking to some sort of dummy. Meanwhile i pur 5live on after the Amber Rudd resignation and Stephen Nolan seemed way out of his comfort zone so I switched to LBC.

Just some thoughts on our current discussions. Clearly Five Live has become more women friendly, but only the face of constant criticism that it was too blokey. So, I don't know who is right and who is wrong here or if they are now striking the right balance. Or, is being blokey and girly mutually exclusive. I suspect it's not and we can all benefit from many of the pieces.

What I feel more strongly is that the station has become far too pc. It marches to the pc agenda and salutes at the mere hint of something that may contravene the opinions of any listening Guardian leaders. Of course, leading the cause are Saints Nicky and Nihal. I have no real problem if there is a debate, say on plastic, that all views are there. But it does seem that if someone even suggests plastic might be required for some small task (let a lone a big one) Nicky Campbell leads the assembled parties in a booing and hissing fit. He's also not against hijacking anything for his own agenda. This morning, Liam Fox was giving his views on the Brexit negotiations, how trade might be after Brexit and whether Amber Rudd fit for purpose when along comes Nicky and assails the good doctor the head with chicken coups in the USA. Apparently, Nicky doesn't feel they are big enough. It had absolutely nothing to do with Dr. Liam who it appears has more than his hands full with other matters. There needs to be room for other views rather than just the party PC line.

I do like the reinstatement of having reporters do features on other stories. There was a great item about drugs in Barrow on Furness (apparently they are on every street corner, though there is little else to do in Barrow) and another good item in recent days on black men aspiring to marry white girls. These kind of items get us away from constant presenter preaching and then bashing those who don't agree.

I also think it would be nice if we could get away from podcasts masquerading as programmes. The all time low being that one about physical exercise. Though it did have the same effect as running for miles in the morning as it made me want to be violently sick!

I can't agree with those who have criticised Tony Livesey. Yes he likes a laugh, but he also asks some of the most piercing questions on Five Live. I know the first thing to batter him with is his long gone connection with The Sport newspaper. It's a bit like hurling abuse at someone because they once acted as a child and ate Farley's Rusks. It happened a long time ago and he has grown up since then. Judge him on now and not on what he once did at a time when we all did things differently and, in some cases, had different attitudes. To me he illustrates a very intelligent brain with a comedic light touch. The man is a class act and one person I do look forward to listening to.

I also think Rachel Burden is very listenable, along with Anna Foster and Claire McDonnell. I can see why Dotun annoys so many, and he probably isn't up to national radio standards, but he is a friend to many in the night and I see no real problem with him being there. I think it speaks for itself that he hasn't progressed to daytime radio. Perhaps the worst comment of all I can give Phil Williams is that I don't have a view! I suppose being a broadcaster you would want people to like or even dislike you, but for Phil doesn't inspire me one way or the other. Perfectly listenable, but with not much to say. I don't mind him, I have no wish to see him go, but he doesn't fire me up. I do prefer Sam Walker (or better still) Adrian Goldberg in that slot.

I wish Nicky would find someone else to annoy at breakfast time. I really can't be bothered with his sanctimonious self important posturing, but I don't dislike him enough to switch off. I feel the same way about the loud hailer that does Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings. He annoys me, but I still keep listening. In his own way he is as big a self publicist as you will hear. He reminds me of a runaway truck, unable to turn left or right and just ploughs on in the face of any reasonable point of view the stands in his way.

The only person I simply can not listen to is Nihal. I feel bad saying that but his manner and comments simply make the afternoons a time for counting the flowers on my wallpaper. As a peaceful person, he amazes me n that he is the nearest any presenter gets me to being violent.

Overall, Five Live does need a new schedule, none of us on here will agree on what that should be, but I think I have to agree with the comment that Simon Mayo was a great Five Live presenter and, in the main, it has gone downhill (in an Eddie Edwards way) since then. But I still listen, because I prefer it to the alternatives. But this tiresome PC agenda, the constant man bashing in mid-morning and a presenter in the afternoon who leaves me contemplating inflicting self harm with a fork does test my loyalty.

Thanks - I wish I'd written that. Mention of Phil Williams reminds me of what a broadcasting executive once told me. He said the best broadcasters polarised the audience, leaving no room for indifference.

Just some thoughts on our current discussions. Clearly Five Live has become more women friendly, but only the face of constant criticism that it was too blokey. So, I don't know who is right and who is wrong here or if they are now striking the right balance. Or, is being blokey and girly mutually exclusive. I suspect it's not and we can all benefit from many of the pieces.

What I feel more strongly is that the station has become far too pc. It marches to the pc agenda and salutes at the mere hint of something that may contravene the opinions of any listening Guardian leaders. Of course, leading the cause are Saints Nicky and Nihal. I have no real problem if there is a debate, say on plastic, that all views are there. But it does seem that if someone even suggests plastic might be required for some small task (let a lone a big one) Nicky Campbell leads the assembled parties in a booing and hissing fit. He's also not against hijacking anything for his own agenda. This morning, Liam Fox was giving his views on the Brexit negotiations, how trade might be after Brexit and whether Amber Rudd fit for purpose when along comes Nicky and assails the good doctor the head with chicken coups in the USA. Apparently, Nicky doesn't feel they are big enough. It had absolutely nothing to do with Dr. Liam who it appears has more than his hands full with other matters. There needs to be room for other views rather than just the party PC line.

I do like the reinstatement of having reporters do features on other stories. There was a great item about drugs in Barrow on Furness (apparently they are on every street corner, though there is little else to do in Barrow) and another good item in recent days on black men aspiring to marry white girls. These kind of items get us away from constant presenter preaching and then bashing those who don't agree.

I also think it would be nice if we could get away from podcasts masquerading as programmes. The all time low being that one about physical exercise. Though it did have the same effect as running for miles in the morning as it made me want to be violently sick!

I can't agree with those who have criticised Tony Livesey. Yes he likes a laugh, but he also asks some of the most piercing questions on Five Live. I know the first thing to batter him with is his long gone connection with The Sport newspaper. It's a bit like hurling abuse at someone because they once acted as a child and ate Farley's Rusks. It happened a long time ago and he has grown up since then. Judge him on now and not on what he once did at a time when we all did things differently and, in some cases, had different attitudes. To me he illustrates a very intelligent brain with a comedic light touch. The man is a class act and one person I do look forward to listening to.

I also think Rachel Burden is very listenable, along with Anna Foster and Claire McDonnell. I can see why Dotun annoys so many, and he probably isn't up to national radio standards, but he is a friend to many in the night and I see no real problem with him being there. I think it speaks for itself that he hasn't progressed to daytime radio. Perhaps the worst comment of all I can give Phil Williams is that I don't have a view! I suppose being a broadcaster you would want people to like or even dislike you, but for Phil doesn't inspire me one way or the other. Perfectly listenable, but with not much to say. I don't mind him, I have no wish to see him go, but he doesn't fire me up. I do prefer Sam Walker (or better still) Adrian Goldberg in that slot.

I wish Nicky would find someone else to annoy at breakfast time. I really can't be bothered with his sanctimonious self important posturing, but I don't dislike him enough to switch off. I feel the same way about the loud hailer that does Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings. He annoys me, but I still keep listening. In his own way he is as big a self publicist as you will hear. He reminds me of a runaway truck, unable to turn left or right and just ploughs on in the face of any reasonable point of view the stands in his way.

The only person I simply can not listen to is Nihal. I feel bad saying that but his manner and comments simply make the afternoons a time for counting the flowers on my wallpaper. As a peaceful person, he amazes me n that he is the nearest any presenter gets me to being violent.

Overall, Five Live does need a new schedule, none of us on here will agree on what that should be, but I think I have to agree with the comment that Simon Mayo was a great Five Live presenter and, in the main, it has gone downhill (in an Eddie Edwards way) since then. But I still listen, because I prefer it to the alternatives. But this tiresome PC agenda, the constant man bashing in mid-morning and a presenter in the afternoon who leaves me contemplating inflicting self harm with a fork does test my loyalty.

Don't think many on this thread have thrown that at comedy Tony he is still too lightweight sadly like the rest of em in all honesty

As a 5live listener from the very outset, I think the general standard of reporters / broadcasters has dropped over time. Back in the day we had Peter Allen, Jane Garvey, Victoria Derbyshire, Sheila Fogarty, all highly intelligent, yet still with a light touch, so not sonorously serious - a la Radio 4. That's not to say there aren't a few who are still very capable. Emma Barnet was a breath of fresh air when she took over from the joke that is Adrian Chiles. How he still gets any broadcasting work amazes me - when he started out many years ago doing the money slot, he wasn't too bad, then he left to do The One Show with Christine Bleakley, which was a massive success, so much so he that was poached by ITV to be their main football anchor at a multi million pound salary. What a disaster, from day one he was nervous, constantly looking down at his notes, trying to be funny and blokey, but failing every time, plus he didn't really know that much about football. His sacking was inevitable, since when he is a shadow of his old self, obviously scarred by the experience. To top it all, his absurd midlands twang is just too much, ok if you're competent with it, like Adrian Goldberg, but Chiles needs to find another career.

Another over promoted bore is funny man Livesey. He was just about tolerable on the evening slot, but giving him Drive after Peter Allen was crazy. The man thinks he's Eric Morecambe, except Morecambe was a proper comedian who knew how to time a joke, with Livesey every stupid, feeble gag is followed by a pause, as he waits for laughter which never comes. Do all men from his part of Lancashire think they're born stand up comedians? On the odd occasion he knuckles down to a serious interview he's not too bad, but it doesn't last, he just can't wait for the next one liner, you can see long suffering Anna Foster rolling her eyes as he ploughs on regardless, he really thinks he's something............and next - the 'eadlaans...........

Of course the true lightweight of lightweights has to be Phil Williams. A man who appears to know nothing about anything except doing a bit of physical exercise and basic cooking. He's constantly laughing at things which are not meant to be funny, he insults other broadcasters like Rhod Sharpe, who he hands over to, a man considerable senior to him, highly experienced and a true professional, he works hard to control himself with Williams insensitive remarks about his age and memory etc. which are not a problem for him or anyone else. Williams is a disrespectful, unintelligent, ignoramus who has no place at the BBC, I dread the day he gets a mainstream show.

Adebayo is beyond words, an idiot who is so full of himself, yet he can't even pronounce words correctly. I was absolutely amazed the night the clocks went forward a few weeks ago, as the only man whose job always encompasses that time change, he has still not mastered when they go back and when they go forward. He got it completely wrong saying it was 4 O' Clock when it was in fact 2 O'Clock - all he had to do was add one hour to One O' Clock, but then he whined on about "but it's so confusing" - it is - to an eight year old. I guess the graveyard shift is the only reason he keeps his job, nobody else wants it.

Generally, the constant repetition of the phone number, the text number, the endless trails for upcoming shows and events, always at double the volume, with crashing sound effects and music, is just too much, God knows who at the BBC thinks this is what people want - to be battered by shouting, over excited voices every 10 minutes - if something is exciting we don't need to be told so, it should speak for itself, and if it's not, no amount of screaming will make it so. Thank God for the mute button.......

As a 5live listener from the very outset, I think the general standard of reporters / broadcasters has dropped over time. Back in the day we had Peter Allen, Jane Garvey, Victoria Derbyshire, Sheila Fogarty, all highly intelligent, yet still with a light touch, so not sonorously serious - a la Radio 4. That's not to say there aren't a few who are still very capable. Emma Barnet was a breath of fresh air when she took over from the joke that is Adrian Chiles. How he still gets any broadcasting work amazes me - when he started out many years ago doing the money slot, he wasn't too bad, then he left to do The One Show with Christine Bleakley, which was a massive success, so much so he that was poached by ITV to be their main football anchor at a multi million pound salary. What a disaster, from day one he was nervous, constantly looking down at his notes, trying to be funny and blokey, but failing every time, plus he didn't really know that much about football. His sacking was inevitable, since when he is a shadow of his old self, obviously scarred by the experience. To top it all, his absurd midlands twang is just too much, ok if you're competent with it, like Adrian Goldberg, but Chiles needs to find another career.

Another over promoted bore is funny man Livesey. He was just about tolerable on the evening slot, but giving him Drive after Peter Allen was crazy. The man thinks he's Eric Morecambe, except Morecambe was a proper comedian who knew how to time a joke, with Livesey every stupid, feeble gag is followed by a pause, as he waits for laughter which never comes. Do all men from his part of Lancashire think they're born stand up comedians? On the odd occasion he knuckles down to a serious interview he's not too bad, but it doesn't last, he just can't wait for the next one liner, you can see long suffering Anna Foster rolling her eyes as he ploughs on regardless, he really thinks he's something............and next - the 'eadlaans...........

Of course the true lightweight of lightweights has to be Phil Williams. A man who appears to know nothing about anything except doing a bit of physical exercise and basic cooking. He's constantly laughing at things which are not meant to be funny, he insults other broadcasters like Rhod Sharpe, who he hands over to, a man considerable senior to him, highly experienced and a true professional, he works hard to control himself with Williams insensitive remarks about his age and memory etc. which are not a problem for him or anyone else. Williams is a disrespectful, unintelligent, ignoramus who has no place at the BBC, I dread the day he gets a mainstream show.

Adebayo is beyond words, an idiot who is so full of himself, yet he can't even pronounce words correctly. I was absolutely amazed the night the clocks went forward a few weeks ago, as the only man whose job always encompasses that time change, he has still not mastered when they go back and when they go forward. He got it completely wrong saying it was 4 O' Clock when it was in fact 2 O'Clock - all he had to do was add one hour to One O' Clock, but then he whined on about "but it's so confusing" - it is - to an eight year old. I guess the graveyard shift is the only reason he keeps his job, nobody else wants it.

Generally, the constant repetition of the phone number, the text number, the endless trails for upcoming shows and events, always at double the volume, with crashing sound effects and music, is just too much, God knows who at the BBC thinks this is what people want - to be battered by shouting, over excited voices every 10 minutes - if something is exciting we don't need to be told so, it should speak for itself, and if it's not, no amount of screaming will make it so. Thank God for the mute button.......

End of rant.

Not madly keen on Phil Williams but when I recall some of his predecessors in that time slot, in particular Richard Bacon and Edwina Currie ( although i think she was possibly during the weekend) it could be a lot worse.

As a 5live listener from the very outset, I think the general standard of reporters / broadcasters has dropped over time. Back in the day we had Peter Allen, Jane Garvey, Victoria Derbyshire, Sheila Fogarty, all highly intelligent, yet still with a light touch, so not sonorously serious - a la Radio 4. That's not to say there aren't a few who are still very capable. Emma Barnet was a breath of fresh air when she took over from the joke that is Adrian Chiles. How he still gets any broadcasting work amazes me - when he started out many years ago doing the money slot, he wasn't too bad, then he left to do The One Show with Christine Bleakley, which was a massive success, so much so he that was poached by ITV to be their main football anchor at a multi million pound salary. What a disaster, from day one he was nervous, constantly looking down at his notes, trying to be funny and blokey, but failing every time, plus he didn't really know that much about football. His sacking was inevitable, since when he is a shadow of his old self, obviously scarred by the experience. To top it all, his absurd midlands twang is just too much, ok if you're competent with it, like Adrian Goldberg, but Chiles needs to find another career.

Another over promoted bore is funny man Livesey. He was just about tolerable on the evening slot, but giving him Drive after Peter Allen was crazy. The man thinks he's Eric Morecambe, except Morecambe was a proper comedian who knew how to time a joke, with Livesey every stupid, feeble gag is followed by a pause, as he waits for laughter which never comes. Do all men from his part of Lancashire think they're born stand up comedians? On the odd occasion he knuckles down to a serious interview he's not too bad, but it doesn't last, he just can't wait for the next one liner, you can see long suffering Anna Foster rolling her eyes as he ploughs on regardless, he really thinks he's something............and next - the 'eadlaans...........

Of course the true lightweight of lightweights has to be Phil Williams. A man who appears to know nothing about anything except doing a bit of physical exercise and basic cooking. He's constantly laughing at things which are not meant to be funny, he insults other broadcasters like Rhod Sharpe, who he hands over to, a man considerable senior to him, highly experienced and a true professional, he works hard to control himself with Williams insensitive remarks about his age and memory etc. which are not a problem for him or anyone else. Williams is a disrespectful, unintelligent, ignoramus who has no place at the BBC, I dread the day he gets a mainstream show.

Adebayo is beyond words, an idiot who is so full of himself, yet he can't even pronounce words correctly. I was absolutely amazed the night the clocks went forward a few weeks ago, as the only man whose job always encompasses that time change, he has still not mastered when they go back and when they go forward. He got it completely wrong saying it was 4 O' Clock when it was in fact 2 O'Clock - all he had to do was add one hour to One O' Clock, but then he whined on about "but it's so confusing" - it is - to an eight year old. I guess the graveyard shift is the only reason he keeps his job, nobody else wants it.

Generally, the constant repetition of the phone number, the text number, the endless trails for upcoming shows and events, always at double the volume, with crashing sound effects and music, is just too much, God knows who at the BBC thinks this is what people want - to be battered by shouting, over excited voices every 10 minutes - if something is exciting we don't need to be told so, it should speak for itself, and if it's not, no amount of screaming will make it so. Thank God for the mute button.......

End of rant.

Couldn’t agree more. Especially about Comedy Tony 85058 Livesey.

Hi all. Thanks for keeping me entertained for many years, taken the leap to join. Some really excellent points on this forum.

As a 5live listener from the very outset, I think the general standard of reporters / broadcasters has dropped over time. Back in the day we had Peter Allen, Jane Garvey, Victoria Derbyshire, Sheila Fogarty, all highly intelligent, yet still with a light touch, so not sonorously serious - a la Radio 4. That's not to say there aren't a few who are still very capable. Emma Barnet was a breath of fresh air when she took over from the joke that is Adrian Chiles. How he still gets any broadcasting work amazes me - when he started out many years ago doing the money slot, he wasn't too bad, then he left to do The One Show with Christine Bleakley, which was a massive success, so much so he that was poached by ITV to be their main football anchor at a multi million pound salary. What a disaster, from day one he was nervous, constantly looking down at his notes, trying to be funny and blokey, but failing every time, plus he didn't really know that much about football. His sacking was inevitable, since when he is a shadow of his old self, obviously scarred by the experience. To top it all, his absurd midlands twang is just too much, ok if you're competent with it, like Adrian Goldberg, but Chiles needs to find another career.

Another over promoted bore is funny man Livesey. He was just about tolerable on the evening slot, but giving him Drive after Peter Allen was crazy. The man thinks he's Eric Morecambe, except Morecambe was a proper comedian who knew how to time a joke, with Livesey every stupid, feeble gag is followed by a pause, as he waits for laughter which never comes. Do all men from his part of Lancashire think they're born stand up comedians? On the odd occasion he knuckles down to a serious interview he's not too bad, but it doesn't last, he just can't wait for the next one liner, you can see long suffering Anna Foster rolling her eyes as he ploughs on regardless, he really thinks he's something............and next - the 'eadlaans...........

Of course the true lightweight of lightweights has to be Phil Williams. A man who appears to know nothing about anything except doing a bit of physical exercise and basic cooking. He's constantly laughing at things which are not meant to be funny, he insults other broadcasters like Rhod Sharpe, who he hands over to, a man considerable senior to him, highly experienced and a true professional, he works hard to control himself with Williams insensitive remarks about his age and memory etc. which are not a problem for him or anyone else. Williams is a disrespectful, unintelligent, ignoramus who has no place at the BBC, I dread the day he gets a mainstream show.

Adebayo is beyond words, an idiot who is so full of himself, yet he can't even pronounce words correctly. I was absolutely amazed the night the clocks went forward a few weeks ago, as the only man whose job always encompasses that time change, he has still not mastered when they go back and when they go forward. He got it completely wrong saying it was 4 O' Clock when it was in fact 2 O'Clock - all he had to do was add one hour to One O' Clock, but then he whined on about "but it's so confusing" - it is - to an eight year old. I guess the graveyard shift is the only reason he keeps his job, nobody else wants it.

Generally, the constant repetition of the phone number, the text number, the endless trails for upcoming shows and events, always at double the volume, with crashing sound effects and music, is just too much, God knows who at the BBC thinks this is what people want - to be battered by shouting, over excited voices every 10 minutes - if something is exciting we don't need to be told so, it should speak for itself, and if it's not, no amount of screaming will make it so. Thank God for the mute button.......

End of rant.

The BBC is completely obsessed with people "getting involved" - texts were continually flashing on the screen between frames in the recent snooker- Norton read "hundreds out" during Eurovision. Live score feeds on the website are now primarily "get involved" and you have to trawl through countless rubbish to find a cricket or football score- ON A LIVE BROADCAST i have NO interest in whether Brian from Brighton thinks Cook should be dropped from the England team or whether Tammy from Torquay thinks Theresa May should sack Johnson.......

Congratulations to 5Live Drive for having a female footballer commenting on the England squad. The holding midfielder from Prescot Cables FC was available, but identified as male so missed out on the gig.